Dwayne Johnson - Biography - IMDb Dwayne Johnson Biography Showing all 117 items Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (1) | Trade Mark (15) | Trivia (78) | Personal Quotes (14) | Salary (4) Overview (4) 6' 5¼" (1.96 m) Mini Bio (1) Dwayne Douglas Johnson, also known as The Rock, was born on May 2, 1972 in Hayward, California, to Ata Johnson (born Feagaimaleata Fitisemanu Maivia) and Canadian-born professional wrestler Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles). His father is black (of Black Nova Scotian descent), and his mother is of Samoan background (her own father was Peter Fanene Maivia , also a professional wrestler). While growing up, Dwayne traveled around a lot with his parents and watched his father perform in the ring. During his high school years, Dwayne began playing football and he soon received a full scholarship from the University of Miami where he had tremendous success as a football player.

In 1995, Dwayne suffered a back injury which cost him a place in the NFL. He then signed a 3 year deal with the Canadian League but left after a year to pursue a career in wrestling. He made his wrestling debut in the USWA under the name Flex Kavanah where he won the tag team championship with Brett Sawyer. In 1996, Dwayne joined the WWE and became Rocky Maivia where he joined a group known as "The Nation of Domination" and turned heel. Rocky eventually took over leadership of the "Nation" and began taking the persona of The Rock. After the "Nation" split, The Rock joined another elite group of wrestlers known as the "Corporation" and began a memorable feud with Steve Austin . Soon the Rock was kicked out of the "Corporation". He turned face and became known as "The Peoples Champion". In 2000, the Rock took time off from WWE to film his appearance in The Mummy Returns (2001).

He returned in 2001 during the WCW/ECW invasion where he joined a team of WWE wrestlers at The Scorpion King (2002), a prequel to The Mummy Returns (2001). Dwayne has a daughter, Simone Alexandra, born in 2001, with his ex-wife Dany Garcia . - IMDb Mini Biography By: Zak Hamza < mj_zak@yahoo.co.uk> / ritual < vsritual@vsritual.com> Spouse (1) Trademark move: Charging Double Leg Spinebuster Finishing move: Rock Bottom Trademark Phrase: "Just bring it!" Trademark Phrase: "Lay a smack down on your candy ass" Very muscular physique Trivia (78) First ever 8 time WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Was the first person to ever kick out of the "Stone Cold Stunner" while fighting Stone Cold Steve Austin ( Steve Austin ) at Wrestlemania XV. His favorite eyebrow trademark (not including his own) is Groucho Marx 's. Was a member of Miami's NCAA national championship football team in 1991. Later in his career, he played as Warren Sapp 's backup at defensive tackle.

Received guidance and training from Bret Hart (aka "The Hitman") when he first came to the WWF. A member of the elite group of wrestlers, such as Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair to hold the WWF and WCW world titles on several different occasions. Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001". He once appeared on Martha Stewart Living (1991) to cook one of his favorite family recipes. Attended Freedom High School, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Another former student was Daniel Dae Kim . Has a wax figure likeness of himself at Madame Tussaud's museum Met, Dany Garcia , when she was 22, and they married the day after his 25th birthday. He did not meet her parents until shortly before their wedding. Tonga Fifita , the wrestler known as Haku, was his Best Man. Decided to attend the University of Miami because they didn't openly express interest in him. His $5.5-million paycheck for The Scorpion King (2002) earned him a listing in the Guinness Book of World Records, as his salary was the highest for any actor receiving top billing for the first time.

First athlete to host Saturday Night Live (1975) for a second time. Though, he was promoting the film ( The Scorpion King (2002)) with his second stint, his pro-wrestling and CFL background makes him the show's first two-time athlete-host. He owns the rights to name "The Rock" (including logos, phrases, etc). The rights to the name "The Rock" were previously owned by WWE, Inc. (which is the main reason why Vince McMahon has received executive producer credits in some of the Rock's films). Once, while putting on a show for WWF road agent Pat Patterson, sold his opponent's moves so well, his then-girlfriend Dany Garcia thought he was actually hurt. Growing up, he considered what his father did, "wrestling"; he once tried amateur wrestling, and found he didn't like it. He was offered a promotional deal with "Dunkin' Donuts", which would have seen the company name a donut after him. Thinking it would make him appear big-headed, he graciously turned the offer down.

His last match in the WWE before leaving to film The Rundown (2003) was against Bill Goldberg at the 2003 Backlash Pay-Per-View. Accidentally smashed the tail-light of a Porsche while filming the movie Walking Tall (2004). Dwayne's father is black, of Black Nova Scotian descent (his father's ancestors were African-Americans who moved to Canada). Dwayne's mother is of Samoan background. Was teammates with Doug Flutie with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). In his first semester at the University of Miami, he earned a .7 grade point average. He was majoring in criminology. His wedding anniversary falls on the same day as Stu Hart 's birthday. Stu's son, Bret Hart , would often give him tips on how to improve in his matches. Has played his own father in an episode of the situation comedy That '70s Show (1998). In The Rundown (2003), he tells one of the rebels that Muhammad Ali would win a match against Mike Tyson .

To intimidate his opponents, his father, Rocky Johnson , would often perform the "Ali shuffle" during his wrestling matches. While filming The Scorpion King (2002), accidentally hit Michael Clarke Duncan during a fight sequence. Duncan leaned in too far for a hit, and his chin connected with The Rock's elbow. Is the third youngest superstar to hold the IC Championship. Jeff Hardy is the youngest at 23, and Randy Orton is the second youngest, also at 23, only a few months older than Hardy. He weighed 290 pounds during his college football career, but reduced his weight to about 265 pounds late in his wrestling career. He has lost an addition 30 pounds recently for his part in Southland Tales (2006), some of which he since regained. Dwayne is a skilled light tackle salt water fisherman. Major Title Wins Include: WWF/WWE Heavyweight Title (7); WWF Intercontinental Title; WWF Tag Team Title w/ Mick Foley ; WWE Tag Team Title w/ Chris Jericho ; WWF Royal Rumble Winner; WCW Heavyweight Title; USWA Tag Team Titles w/Bret Sawyer. Son of Ata Johnson and Rocky Johnson .

Ranked #61 on VH1's 100 Hottest Hotties The WWE named their Thursday night show WWE Smackdown! (1999) after one of The Rock's catchphrases, "Layeth the Smack Down.". Officially proclaimed himself "The Rock" during a promo where he attacked Ron Simmons (Faarooq) in a WWE Raw (1993) telecast. He originally chose "Flex Kavana" as his stage name, because he didn't want to seem like he was trading off his family's legacy ( Rocky Johnson , his father, and High Chief Peter Fanene Maivia his grandfather). Ironically, WWE officials came up with "Rocky Maivia" after they felt "Flex Kavana" wasn't exactly a great name. When Rocky Maivia was first considering going by the name The Rock for short, he resisted because he felt it would be stealing the former nickname of WWE Hall-of-Famer Don Muraco . He was talked into it by Vince Russo . Was good friends with the late actor Michael Clarke Duncan . His cousin, Tanoai Reed , is his stunt double for many of his movies.

During a visit to Samoa in July 2004, he was anointed by Head of State Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II with the chiefly title of 'Seiuli, Son of Malietoa'. Attended the Republican National Convention in 2004 Cousin of Solofa Fatu Jr. (Rikishi) and Rodney Anoai (Yokozuna). As of 2008, Doom (2005) and Southland Tales (2006) are the two only R-rated films he has starred in. All of his other films have received PG-13, at the most. While filming Be Cool (2005), he was Punk'd (2003) by Ashton Kutcher 's crew. They set his trailer on fire, which didn't seem to faze him. It was only after Vince, one of the Punk'd (2003) crew, blamed the fire on him that things got really heated and they revealed the gag. Was Tim Burton 's second choice for the role of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), which went to Johnny Depp .

Has two daughters: Simone Alexander Johnson with ex-wife Dany Garcia , born August 14, 2001 in Davie, Florida, and Jasmine Johnson with girlfriend Lauren Hashian , born December 16, 2015. With his wife, donated $2 million to the University of Miami for the new Robert and Judi Prokop Newman Alumni Center's living room, to be named "The Dany and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Living Room". The donation was announced at the Miami premiere of Gridiron Gang (2006). Made his WWF television debut at the Survivor Series (1996). In an interview with "Entertainment Magazine", he no longer wants to be known as "The Rock". Because of his retirement from the wrestling business, he now considers himself an actor: "I no longer am a wrestler, I am now pursuing a future as an actor and someday as a director. I am not the Rock. I am Dwayne Johnson.". [October 2006] Not only was his father, Rocky Johnson , a wrestler, but his grandfather, three uncles, and six cousins (one adopted) have been in wrestling too. Has a fear of spiders.

Has a stepbrother, Jared. Remains close friends with WWE writer Brian Gewirtz . Inducted his father and grandfather, Rocky Johnson and Peter Fanene Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame on March 29, 2008. Honored by the Congressional Award in Washington, DC on June 19, 2008 with the Horizon Award. The Horizon Award is a special recognition from the Joint Leadership of the United States Congress and the Congressional Award Board of Directors. The Horizon Award is presented to individuals from the private sectors who have contributed to expanding opportunities for all Americans through their own personal contributions, and who have set exceptional examples for young people through their successes in life. Has expressed his desire to play a villain in a James Bond film. Dwayne's grandfather Peter Fanene Maivia appeared as a Bond villain in You Only Live Twice (1967). Although he has lived in the United States for most of his life, he has Samoan citizenship as his mother is Samoan. He has often stated in interviews he is proud of his Samoan heritage and feels honored to be a Samoan.

Has stated that the film adaptation of Doom (2005) was a complete failure, and that the movie did a huge disservice to fans of the video game franchise. Was contacted about appearing at the Flair farewell address the night following WrestleMania XXIV (2008) but declined due to scheduling conflicts. After making it big in the movie industry, Dwayne was able to fulfill an ambition he'd listed on his agenda of priority "To Do" items, and bought a home for his parents, a luxury they'd never theretofore known. His first major personal indulgence was his purchase of a Rolex watch. Is a published author. While he was filming his swordfight scene with Michael Clarke Duncan in The Scorpion King (2002), the breaking of the swords was real and unintended, and openly stated that it was extremely dangerous because it was not planned and it could have cut anybody. The Rock returned to the WWE, and in 2013, he won the WWE Championship by defeating CM Punk at the Royal Rumble and retained the title at Elimination Chamber pay per views. Indian Actor Varun Dhawan is a self professed die hard fan of The Rock.

His ex-wife, Dany Garcia , is his manager. First movie experience at 8-years-old was Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Is an official Priest registered in California for a special YouTube video for his best friend (Nick Mundy). The video is called Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's Wedding Surprise!. While on tour to promote San Andreas (2015), he set a world record of 105 selfies in three minutes, averaging out to one selfie every 1.7 seconds. As a high school student he found it very difficult to make friends due to his lofty (6'4 / 225lbs) and mustachioed demeanor which led his fellow students to suspect he was an undercover narc cop, not unlike Johnny Depp 's 21 Jump Street (1987) character. By the time Dwayne was 16-years-old, he had already enrolled in four high schools due to his frequent expulsions: McKinley HS (Honolulu, HI), Glencliff HS (Nashville, TN), McGavock HS (Nashville, TN) and Freedom HS (Bethlehem, PA).

(December 16, 2015) Has a daughter named Jasmine Johnson, with his girlfriend Lauren Hashian . Cousin of former wrestler Umaga. Cousin of wrestler Roman Reigns. Uncle to wrestlers Jimmy (Jonathan Solofa Fatu) and Jey (Joshua Samuel Fatu) Also known as "The Usos". Dwayne Johnson was named as Forbes' of highest-paid actor. Johnson commanded $64.5 million between June 2015 and June 2016, more than doubling his earnings from the previous year and bumping Robert Downey Jr. from the top of the list, where he was perched for three consecutive years. According to Forbes, his estimated earnings for 2016 was approximately $64.5 million making him the highest paid actor for that year. He was already 6"4" and 225 pounds when he was in high school. Many students thought he was an undercover police officer, such as in 21 Jump Street, and he had trouble making friends.

Personal Quotes (14) Finally...The Rock...has come back to [whatever city he's in at the time] You will go one on one with the Great One! Who in the blue hell are you? [Referring to his 0.7 grade point average in college] It's pretty hard to get a point seven. You have to do close to nothing. Can you smell what The Rock is cooking! The Rock will take you down Know Your Role Boulevard which is on the corner of Jabroni Drive and check you directly into the Smackdown Hotel! It doesn't matter what you think. I have so much love and respect for the fans. I'll never forget where I came from. I love the business. I grew up in the business. And everyone always asks me, from Letterman [ David Letterman ] to Stone Phillips , what I miss about wrestling. Hands down, I miss the interaction with the fans. Outside of the ring I loved it, too. I mean, how hard is it to sign an autograph? Don't be an a**hole to your fans. And there's many [in WWE] that won't, which is bulls**t.

But inside the ring, just that energy and feeding off that energy is great. There's something so special about it. And every night I would just have a blueprint of what I would say and rely so much on ad-libbing and waiting to see what happens when I get out there and let it materialize organically and see what happens. Every night was a different crowd and they gave me so much energy, and I'll always love that and always miss that for sure. [Interview with WWE.com in October 2005] To a degree, all of my promos are scripted, in that there are certain lines and phrases that I plan to include. [about his wrestling career] I am amazed at the number of people who think I only work on the days and nights they see me on television. A huge percentage of football players at Division I-A schools - especially those that are typically ranked in the top 25 - do not make the active roster as freshmen.

[on playing Hercules in Brett Ratner 's adaptation of Hercules (2014)] Understand, for me when I was a kid, Hercules was always a hero of mine, from Steve Reeves to the multiple guys who have played Hercules, but the idea and the notion of this man. When I first got into movies, I thought, "Gosh, I would love to do that one day.". I always thought that the version of Hercules that I want to play was one that was more dramatic and survived in barren lands and not necessarily slick in any way or anything like that. It's been around and been on my mind for some time. No matter who you are, being kind is the easiest thing you can do. It's nice to be important but more important to be nice. I heard that from a friend when I was about 15, and I've never forgotten it. Salary (4) Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Biography - life, family, children, parents, name, history, wife, school, mother Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Biography Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson Biography May 2, 1972 • Hayward, California Professional wrestler, actor Johnson, Dwayne "The Rock".

AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission. Although Dwayne Johnson is not a superhero out of a comic book, he does have an alter ego. By day he is a somewhat mild-mannered husband and father. But at night when he steps into the ring, he becomes the chair-flinging, wisecracking wrestler known as The Rock. In the late 1990s the charismatic Johnson, with his exotic good looks and signature eyebrow arch, helped make World Wrestling Smackdowns a part of must-see TV. By the mid-2000s, he had such a following that he was dividing his time between the mat and the big screen. Some observers felt that Hollywood had found its next big-budget action idol, and many predicted that Johnson would have no problem filling the shoes of America's favorite muscleman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was now busy in his new role as governor of California. Third generation wrestler Johnson is a third-generation wrestler. His mother's father, Peter "High Chief" Maivia, was a professional wrestler of Samoan descent whose heritage served as the basis for his ring persona.

Samoa is an island nation located in the South Pacific, and Maivia played the part of an island native, wearing his hair long, wrestling barefoot, and sporting traditional tattoos over most of his body. While on the wrestling circuit he became acquainted with an up-and-coming African American wrestler named Rocky Johnson. During a visit with Maiva's family, Johnson met High Chief's daughter, Ata. The two eventually married, and on May 2, 1972, the couple had a son, whom they named Dwayne Douglas Johnson. Johnson was born in Hayward, California, but he grew up all over the country, since the family moved around to accommodate Rocky Johnson's wrestling career. Because of the family's frequent moves, young Dwayne had a difficult time making friends. He was also teased by other children about his father's profession, and about his size—even as a youngster, Johnson was bigger than average. As a result, he had a quick temper, and as Johnson admitted to Samantha Miller of People, he was even arrested several times for fighting. "It was all youth and stupidity," he explained.

In the mid-1980s, however, the Johnsons settled down long enough for Dwayne to begin attending Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where an interest in sports helped calm the young man down. "My work, my goal, my life, it's like a treadmill. And there's no stop-button on my treadmill. Once I get on, I just keep going." At Freedom High, Johnson boxed and ran track, but he pursued football with a vengeance, hoping to win a scholarship in order to become the first member of his family to go to college. He was a standout star, and by his senior year he was named to USA Today 's high school All-American team. Before graduation Johnson was recruited by several colleges, but he chose to head to Florida to attend the University of Miami, where he played defensive tackle. He soon became known for his talents on the gridiron, but was also known for his crazy antics. During one game against San Diego in 1992, millions of people watched on television as he raced around the field chasing the opponent's mascot, a man in a giant Aztec warrior costume. Johnson's future in football looked bright until he suffered a back injury during his senior year.

He was so depressed that he cut classes and his grade point average (GPA) dropped to a dangerously low 0.7. Not only was he sitting on the bench, he was also on academic probation. Johnson pulled himself together, thanks in part to his future wife, Dany Garcia, a business major he met while in Miami. Garcia encouraged him to hit the books, and in 1995 he graduated with a degree in criminology and a respectable 2.9 GPA. Enter Rocky Maivia Because of his injury, Johnson was not picked to play for the National Football League (NFL) during the 1995 draft, but he still pinned his hopes on a career in pro football. When he was offered a contract by the Calgary Stampeders, he signed on the dotted line and headed to Canada. Life in Canada was miserable. Johnson saw little field action and was paid less than $200 per week to be a practice-squad player. He rented a tiny, dingy apartment and slept on a mattress he found near a local dumpster.

His salary left little room for food, so Johnson took to attending every Stampeder meeting, even though he didn't have to, because he knew sandwiches would be served. He was determined to stick it out, but in an abrupt move, Johnson was let go by the football franchise to make room for a former NFL player. "That was hard," he told Zondra Hughes of Ebony. "I was supposed to be reaping the fruits of my labor, and there I was in Canada having to start all over again." Johnson returned to Florida where both his parents and Dany Garcia lived, and immediately approached his father with a proposal: he wanted to be trained as a wrestler. His decision was made partially out of necessity, but Johnson also had a real love of the sport. After all, he had seen his first wrestling match when he was three weeks old, and when he was six years old his father had taught him such basic moves as the headlock and the armlock. Rocky Johnson, however, had his doubts. He knew that the life of a wrestler was not an easy one and he wanted to spare his son the tough road he had walked.

Rocky finally relented, and for the next few months kept the would-be sparrer on a grueling training schedule. When he felt prepared enough, Johnson contacted a colleague of his grandfather's, who helped open the door for a tryout with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in Corpus Christi, Texas. Although promoters were impressed enough to sign a contract with him, Johnson still had to pay his initial dues by spending some time in Memphis, Tennessee, performing in the WWF second-tier system, the Unites States Wrestling Alliance. During the summer of 1996 Johnson wrestled in promotional matches using the name Flex Kavana, and earned about $40 per night. In August he was given his second professional tryout, this time pitted against a well-known wrestler named Owen Hart. He did so well that he was transferred to Connecticut where the WWF headquarters and training facility were located. On November 16, 1996, just one year after hitting a low point in Canada, Johnson made his professional wrestling debut at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He performed under the name of Rocky Maivia, a nod to both his father and grandfather.

The WWF event was called the Survivor's Series, and Johnson, as Rocky Maivia, was considered to be a "good guy" or, in wrestling terminology, a "babyface." His "bad guy" opponent, or the "heel" in the match, was Paul Levesque, more commonly known as Triple H. The Rock is unveiled Johnson quickly became a hit with wrestling crowds, and in February of 1997 he captured his first WWF championship, making him, at age twenty-four, the youngest wrestler to win a belt. But just a few months later Rocky was being booed during matches. Apparently the fickle audience members were becoming much more interested in rooting for the "bad guys," and in a business where image is everything, Johnson had some rethinking to do. In mid-1997, after suffering a knee injury, he took some time off to recuperate, to marry his longtime girlfriend Dany Garcia, and to strategize. Wrestling in the late 1990s was not the world of wrestling Johnson's father had inhabited.

In 1979 the regional federations that existed throughout the United States had been consolidated into a single organization known as the World Wrestling Federation, and by the mid-1980s pro wrestling had evolved from an athletic sport into a form of high-energy entertainment. Wrestlers now admitted that their moves were choreographed and that the outcomes of the matches were pre-determined. Wrestling had become big business, attracting millions of fans and earning millions of dollars for promoters and the main attractions, the wrestlers. Johnson and WWF writers and producers worked long and hard to come up with just the right image for the handsome, six-foot-four-inch, 270-pound newcomer. What finally emerged was a character named The Rock, who would transform the world of wrestling. According to Johnson, who spoke with Sona Charaipotra of People, "The Rock is Dwayne Johnson with the volume turned all the way up." Wearing black boots, black briefs, and with a tattoo of a Brahma bull on his twenty-two-inch bicep, The Rock was touted as part of the Nation of Domination, a league of "bad boy" wrestlers.

He also became a formidable force both inside and outside the ring, especially when he glared at opponents and the press with a menacing lift of his right eyebrow. When The Rock was unveiled on August 11, 1997, in Jackson, Mississippi, the crowd went wild, and over the next several years fans stood in line to catch the next installment in his wrestling storyline. Producers pitted him against various characters in mock grudge matches, and The Rock won, then lost, then regained his federation championship several times. Along the way, Johnson became perhaps the most popular wrestler in the history of the sport. He was known as The People's Champion, and his signature eyebrow move even took on a name—The People's Eyebrow. In addition, The Rock became a merchandising gold mine. His image appeared on T-shirts, posters, and Halloween masks; and there were Rock action figures and video games. By the 2000s, according to Gillian Flynn of Entertainment Weekly, the WWF was bringing in $120 million in merchandise sales per year, thanks solely to Johnson.

Pins down the big screen Johnson's appeal was not limited to wrestling fans, although he is credited with almost doubling the WWF's female fan base, thanks in large part to his movie-star good looks. He was so popular that in 2000, when he published his autobiography, The Rock Says, the book stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for an astonishing twenty weeks. Johnson drew record crowds at book signings, and began popping up on television, both to promote his book and to take on small acting roles. He made several appearances on the late-night comedy program Saturday Night Live, and was featured on such TV shows as DAG, Star Trek: Voyager, and That '70's Show. The next logical step was the big screen. In 2001 Johnson appeared briefly in the summer blockbuster The Mummy Returns, for which he was paid, in Hollywood terms, a paltry $500,000. Although he was given only minutes of screen time, producers were impressed enough that they built a movie around Johnson's Mummy character, called The Scorpion King. The film, which was released in 2002, is an action-adventure movie set in ancient Egypt.

Johnson plays Mathayus, a desert warrior who is determined to save his people from an evil conqueror named Memnon. If he succeeds, he will take his rightful place as the Scorpion King. Although the movie was definitely not high drama, considering that Johnson's character spent most of his time swinging a sword and slashing his enemies, the would-be actor took his role seriously. In fact, he worked closely with an acting coach throughout the shooting of the film. When The Scorpion King hit theaters in April of 2002, it made more than $36 million during its opening weekend. Critics discussed the digitized action sequences and compared the movie to The Mummy, but most focused on Johnson and his million-dollar performance ($5 million, to be exact). In various reviews he was called a big-screen champ and the new face of Hollywood action. As Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly put it, "The Rock commands the screen as naturally as he does the ring." The Scorpion King opened up a whole new career for Johnson. In 2003 he followed up Scorpion with The Rundown, another action movie, but one with a comedic edge that allowed him more acting freedom. Again, reviewers were pleasantly surprised.

They called The Rundown a movie that was a cut above the average shoot-'em-up blockbuster, and they praised Johnson's portrayal of Beck, a bounty hunter set loose in the Amazon jungles of Brazil. In particular, critics praised his comedic abilities, which viewers had glimpsed in his television roles. Johnson's acting coach, Larry Moss, told Gillian Flynn in Entertainment Weekly, "The action roles were obviously what he Sean William Scott (left) and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in a still from the movie The Rundown (2003). Universal/Columbia/The Kobal Collection/Aronowitz, Myles. was commercially designed to do in the beginning, but he can play real comedy, and I hope he does after all the action-star stuff." The most electrifying man in sports By the mid-2000s, Johnson was a full-fledged movie star. In 2004 he made his dramatic debut in Walking Tall, playing Chris Vaughn, a club-wielding sheriff who battles drug dealers and con artists who threaten to take over his peaceful Washington town.

There were also several other movies in the pipeline, including two comedies, Be Cool (2004), a sequel to the 1995 hit Get Shorty, and Instant Karma, slated to open in 2005. Although busy with his many film roles, Johnson still managed to maintain his hectic wrestling schedule. This meant that between filming he was still out on the road, performing and promoting for more than two hundred days a year. Such a demanding schedule was hard on family life, especially considering that Johnson and Dany had their first child, daughter Simone Alexandra, in 2001. Even on the road, however, Johnson claims that he finds the time to call Dany every day, and he still retains close ties to his mother. As Hughes commented, "The Rock is a mama's boy." But The Rock is also a very determined man who has pumped-up plans for the future. As he told Hughes, "I want to do more in the WWF. I want to do more in the movie industry. Ultimately, I want to be the most electrifying man in sports entertainment, period." For More Information Books Johnson, Dwayne, with Joe Layden.

The Rock Says … The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment. New York: Regan Books, 2000. Periodicals Charaipotra, Sona. "The Rock Sounds Off." People (April 19, 2004): p. 30. Flynn, Gillian. "Rock of Ages: Wrestler, Actor, Action Hero?" Entertainment Weekly (May 3, 2002): pp. 10–12. Gleiberman, Owen. "Rock Formation: The Scorpion King, a Bare-Bones Prequel to the Mummy Movies, Gives The Rock a Solid Step toward Stardom." Entertainment Weekly (April 26, 2003): pp. 117–118. Gostin, Nicki. "Newsmakers: Interview with The Rock." Newsweek (April 12, 2004): p. 71. Hughes, Zondra. "The Rock Talks about Race, Wrestling, and Women." Ebony (July 2001): p. 32. Leyner, Mark.

"The Rock is an Onion." Time (April 29, 2002): p. 81. Miller, Samantha. "Bigger, Boulder: Scorpion King's The Rock, a.k.a. Dwayne Johnson, Wrestles with Fatherhood, Fame—and Flab?." People (May 6, 2002): pp. 109+. Web Sites The Rock Official Web site. (accessed on July 6, 2004). User Contributions: Dwayne Johnson - The Rock Pro Wrestler DWAYNE JOHNSON How The Rock Transformed from Pro Wrestler to Bankable Movie Star by Kaya Morgan Nicknamed "The People's Champ", the Rock is one of those rare souls that transcend the boundaries of age, culture and taste as a top-shelf athlete and entertainer. Not that long ago, he had only $7 to his name. Today, he has not only become one of the most bankable World Wrestling Federation superstars in the world but has become a cultural phenomenon in his own right.

How did this 6'5", 270 lb., body-slamming, ruggedly handsome member of the testosterone club with the signature raised eyebrow, who can captivate a crowd of 40,000 screaming fans, so quickly rise to the top? Born in Hayward, California, in 1972, of a Samoan mother and Afro-Canadian father, Dwayne Johnson grew up in the small town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He had the good fortune of being born into a family of wrestlers ï¿½ his father, the great "Soulman" Rocky Johnson, pro wrestling's first African-American champ, and grandfather, the late High Chief Peter Maivia, a Samoan grappler known for his long hair and tattoos of Samoa over much of his body. The two men instilled a true passion for the sport into the young Johnson as they funneled the feisty teen's spurts of independence into a positive direction of healthy work ethics while teaching him the underlying methods behind wrestling. His attendance at Freedom High School was Johnson's first opportunity to excel as an athlete, where at age 14 he became involved in track, later rising to become a star of the local football team.

By his senior year, he was considered one of the top 10 defensive tackles in the country. Not surprisingly, he was awarded a full five-year scholarship to the University of Miami as a defensive lineman for the Miami Hurricanes with an eye on a NFL career. But this soon-to-be superstar wasn't just your normal jock. Due to a knee injury during his senior year, life took quite a different turn from what he had originally planned. Unable to play, and with genuine a concern about his future, he found the inner-strength to improve his academic performance and graduate with a degree in criminology and physiology. Passed over by the NFL, Johnson was picked up by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League based in Alberta who soon relegated him to the practice squad. Then life gave him a swift kick when what appeared to be a way to stay in the game turned out to be the most miserable choice of his life. Living on just a few hundred dollars a week, he found himself forced to take up residence with four other roommates in a shoddy apartment that even a rat would run from. They literally plucked from the dumpster soiled mattresses for their beds, discarded by the cheap motels in the area.

Determined to succeed, Johnson stuck it out until at age 23, and with only $7 in his pocket, he was cut from the team. Now at rock bottom and forced to rely on his family for support, he headed home, humbled to have to start over. But this may have been a blessing in disguise. Ready for a change, he begged his father to teach him everything he knew, and after much debate, Rocky Johnson reluctantly agreed. He was a hard taskmaster, and showed his son no mercy on the mat. He began working the carny circuit and even barns for $35 a night. Then joining the WWF in 1996 under the name of Flex Kavana, within just six months, he won the prestigious Intercontinental Belt ï¿½ the second most prestigious belt in the world, and the Slammy Award for "The Best Newcomer of the Squared Circle" ï¿½ quite the honor for Johnson.

A year later, he joined The Nation of Domination, eventually taking over its leadership and renaming himself, "The Rock." He soon became part of a band of elite wrestlers known as "The Corporation," and his popularity began to skyrocket to levels never before seen in the sport. The Rock has given his fans some of the greatest matches in wrestling history, laid claim to the WWF Heavyweight title six times, and the WWF Tag Team championships five times. But clearly, he transcends wrestling. He has outsold Frank McCourt and the Dalai Lama as a best selling author with "The Rock Says," filled with the many Rock-ism phrases he coined so well. He has twice triumphed on Saturday Night Live garnering the show's best ratings in years, now pulling in $10 million to star in box office hits like The Mummy , The Mummy Returns, The Scorpion King, and The Rundown , and was named by GQ as "Action Hero of the Year." Quite soft spoken in real life, Johnson has a wicked sense of humor and remains humble by refusing to take himself too seriously.

In his leisure hours, he enjoys singing old Sam Cooke songs, watching Johnny Bavo cartoons, playing video games, and spending time with his college sweetheart and wife, Dany Garcia, a financial consultant, and their young daughter, Simone. Contrary to popular belief, all wrestlers are not dumb brutes. The Rock is the best example of a new breed of wrestlers to make it to the top ï¿½ using their brains as opposed to their brawn. Given a few more years, the Rock could easily use his charisma, natural talent and spectacular image to propel him into the next generation of big action heros. Move over, Arnold ï¿½ make way for the Rock! To find more about Dwayne Johnson, go to More stories by journalist, Kaya Morgan , can be found by clicking the link. Contact us for reprint rights as most articles are available. All rights reserved © Dwayne Johnson - IMDb IMDb Actor | Producer | Soundtrack Dwayne Douglas Johnson, also known as The Rock, was born on May 2, 1972 in Hayward, California, to Ata Johnson (born Feagaimaleata Fitisemanu Maivia) and Canadian-born professional wrestler Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles).

His father is black (of Black Nova Scotian descent), and his mother is of Samoan background (her own father was ... See full bio » Born: a list of 33 people created 07 Jan 2012 a list of 45 people created 10 Feb 2013 a list of 32 people created 04 Mar 2013 a list of 45 people created 22 Mar 2013 a list of 23 people created 07 Sep 2015 Do you have a demo reel? Add it to your IMDbPage How much of Dwayne Johnson's work have you seen? User Polls 3 wins & 36 nominations.

See more awards » Known For WWE Raw The Rock / Rocky Maivia / Himself (1996-2016) 2000 Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series) The Champion 1999 The Net (TV Series) Brody 1999 That '70s Show (TV Series) Rocky Johnson 1996 USWA Championship Wrestling (TV Series) Flex Kavana 2016 Clash of the Corps (TV Series) (executive producer) 2015 Ballers (TV Series) (executive producer - 1 episode) - Pilot (2015) ... (executive producer) 2009 Racing Dreams (Documentary) (executive producer) Hide 2016/I Moana (performer: "You're Welcome") 2016 2016 MTV Movie Awards (TV Special) (performer: "Leo Got Fucked By a Bear") 2012 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Episode #20.82 (2012) ...

(performer: "What a Wonderful World" - uncredited) - Dwayne Johnson/Ray LaMontagne (2009) ... (performer: "Tough Guy" - uncredited) - The Rock/Andrew W.K. (2002) ... (performer: "The Scorpion King Battle Cry", "Through the Eyes of Love" (Theme from Ice Castles), "Let The Sunshine", "Cat's in the Cradle", "Fire and Rain", "Monday Monday" - as The Rock, uncredited) - The Rock/AC/DC (2000) ... (performer: "Are You Lonesome Tonight" - uncredited) 2005 Be Cool (performer: "You Ain't Woman Enough" - as The Rock) 1999 WWF St. Valentine's Day Massacre (TV Special) (lyrics: "Smackdown Hotel") / (performer: "Smackdown Hotel" - as the Rock) Hide Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson: 'Homosexuality Would Be A Career Boost' | Contactmusic.com Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson: 'Homosexuality Would Be A Career...

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson: 'Homosexuality Would Be A Career Boost' Dwayne Johnson Dwayne Johnson - also known as The Rock - thinks that gay celebrities should reveal themselves as it will give them a career boost. Picture: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson 2007 Taurus World Stunt Awards held at Paramount Pictures Studios - Arrivals Los Angeles, California - 20.05.07 Wrestling superstar and actor, DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON , believes that his gay celebrity friends should come forward about their sexuality - believing that it will serve as a tremendous career boost. 'The Mummy Returns' star landed his own spin-off in 'The Scorpion King', as well as landing the role of a gay bodyguard in John Travolta's comedy, 'Be Cool'. Related: Dwayne Johnson Will Star In A "Baywatch" Movie. Everything Is Beautiful And Nothing Hurts. The Rock claims that the role has opened his eyes to homosexuality in the movie business, thinking that it should no longer be held against the career of a Hollywood star.

In an interview with gay magazine, 'OUT', saying: "I know a lot of gay actors in Hollywood who don't want to come out, and whatever the reasons are I respect that. But I think if people love you now, and if you came out, they would love you more, and if they didn't, then they weren't real people to begin with."

Question: What is the real name of wrestler turned actor "The Rock"?
Answer: Dwayne Johnson